The NEBRC is a not-for-profit collaboration between policing, academia and the private sector, covering the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber working to protect small businesses from online crime and fraud, and develop the next generation of cyber security talent. It is one of nine regional cyber resilience centres (CRC’s) covering England and Wales and forms part of the UK’s national cyber security strategy.
Why small business?
Small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 99.9% of all private sector business in the UK, yet despite their significance to the UK and the Global economy, research indicates that they frequently leave themselves vulnerable to the potential impact of a cyber-attack, and often lack the resilience to recover or perhaps the ‘know-how’ to implement basic cyber security practices. There is also increasing evidence that SMEs fail to implement protective measures. This is why SMEs are a core priority for the NEBRC and national network group.
The NEBRC Student Service approach
The NEBRC uses local cyber security undergraduates, supervised by industry experts, to offer affordable, professional cyber security ‘vulnerability’ assessments. These assessments result in a risk-led report for the client with an executive summary and technical findings alongside an online debrief, answering questions as needed and include:
➢ Network vulnerability assessments – scans of networks identifying weaknesses that could be exploited by cyber criminals;
➢ Website vulnerability assessments – a website scan identifying weaknesses that could be exploited by cyber criminals;
➢ Policy reviews – a gap analysis of existing cyber security policy;
➢ Internet investigations – open-source research into the digital footprint of an organisation or individual, highlighting risk;
➢ Training – cyber security training for users typically includes phishing awareness;
➢ Business continuity – cyber exercising via tabletop scenarios, helping organisations understand what the business impacts of an attack could be.
Structure and Governance
The NEBRC Police Board sets the strategic direction of the centre, and includes the Deputy Chief Constable of Humberside Police David Marshall, Humberside Police Chief Finance Officer Andrea Mennell, CEO Rebecca Chapman and Head of Business Development Steve Leach. In addition, to strategically advise the Directors, sits an Advisory Board that compromises of, Police and Crime Commissioners and senior business figures from the NE region. The NEBRC Cyber Experts Panel consists of local cyber security consultants who share the current threats that they see and provide sponsorship and placements for students alongside a wide range of cyber security services.
The NEBRC team
The NEBRC has eight members of staff, including a Retired Police Superintendent / CEO, two Detective Inspectors serving as Head of Business Development and Head of Student Services, one Operations and Relationships Manager, one Marketing and Communications Manager, one Service and Technology Supervisor, one Business Assistant and one Data Analyst – plus thirty one, student ‘ethical hackers.’ This team to date has delivered student services to academy trusts, engineering firms, barrister chambers, care homes and charities, working to provide cost-effective, affordable, professional services that reduce vulnerability while developing the student talent pipeline.
Free Core Membership
NEBRC’s Free Core Membership is more than an informative newsletter. Designed for SMEs from all different industries, we take you on a journey for upwards of 12 months to improve your business’s cyber resilience. Included in our membership you will receive:
- Welcome Pack
- Monthly E-newsletter containing information about the latest threats and guidance relating to fraud and cybercrime
- Resources to help you protect yourself and your business against cyber threats
- Networking links to Police Cyber and Fraud Protection Officers – delivering a range of services locally
- Full briefing about our specialist cyber resilience services and how they can be tailored for you and your SME
- Up-to-date versions of the National Cyber Security Centre’s guidance & complementary supplements
- A free risk check and bespoke recommendations to help you mitigate any risks you are under threat from
For further information please contact: [email protected] or sign up to our free core membership to keep up to date with the latest cyber security matters and keep your business safe online.